Future Photographer

Chicago, IL

Lincoln Park Zoo

Our grandson spending a day at Camp MimiPops.

Nikon 35Ti @ f? | 35mm | Fujifilm 200 | ISO 125

Nikkor 35mm F2.8

All Photographed 6/9/26

Santino

52Frames - Week 16 - Portrait Of A Stranger

Along Lake Michigan

Chicago, IL

A fortuitous encounter with a willing stranger; I asked and he agreed.  Turns out Santino is a model, photographer, cinematographer, dancer and a few other creative endeavors that I cannot recall.  Here, he's executing his Michael Jackson move.

Leica CL @ F2.8 | 50mm | Fujifilm 200 (converted to b/w) | ISO 200

Leitz Wetzlar 50mm F2 Summicron

All Photographed 4/16/26

Enough Is Enough

No Kings 3

Chicago, IL

52 Assignments - Exposure 42 - Create A Mood

Catching up on some 52 Assignments posting.  The mood...Peaceful Discontent.

#1:   Sony A7Cii @ f2 | 1/1250 | 40mm | ISO 100

        Voigtlander 40mm F1.4 Nokton Classic (adapted)

#2:   Nikon 35Ti @ f? | 35mm | Fujifilm 200 | ISO 200

        Nikkor 35mm F2.8

Photographed 3/28/26

Today's Color Is Green

Chicago, IL

Walking along Michigan Avenue following the No Kings rally, I spotted a bright green color moving behind a storefront full of reflections.  As I got closer, I saw this stunning woman watching the crowd.  I got off a couple of film shots and then approached the glass. When she saw me, I pointed to my camera and her coat.  She caught the drift, put down her phone & drink and posed in the storefront.  I took a couple of digital photos not knowing how the  film photos would turn out.

#1:   Nikon 35Ti @ f? | 35mm | Fujifilm 200 | ISO 200

        Nikkor 35mm F2.8

#2:   Sony A7Cii @ f? | 1/100 | 40mm | ISO 64

        Voigtlander 40mm F1.4 Nokton Classic (adapted)

Photographed 3/28/26

An Influential Friend

Starting off the 2026 blog with recognition of a friend who has been influential in my expanding into new (and rekindling some old) photographic interests.  After meeting Steve about 2 years ago, I now shoot, develop & scan b/w and color film, have acquired three film cameras, shoot film & digital with several M-mount prime lenses and print photographs for zines, photobooks & display.

I captured (on film) this shot of Steve giving me an inquiring eye during our last photowalk of 2025 in Grayslake, IL.

Nikon 35Ti | 35mm | Fujifilm 400 | ISO 400

Nikkor 35mm F2.8

Photographed 12/23/25

If Only It Was True...

Grayslake, IL

"Where Troubles Melt Away Like Lemon Drops"

Think we can fit the White House, Congress and Supreme Court into this house?

Nikon 35Ti | 35mm | Fujifilm 400 | ISO 400

Nikkor 35mm F2.8

Photographed 12/23/25

Layers Upon Layers

52 Frames - Week 52 - Redo

I love shooting storefront reflections.  They often contain multiple stories and create a puzzle of layers for the viewer.

To diverge from my original 52F-Week 35 Reflections photo taken with an iPhone, I set out to capture a storefront reflection on film, not knowing if it was successful until I processed and scanned the roll.

Photographed in downtown Grayslake, IL, this scene is through the windows of a men's barbershop with reflections of the adjacent street.

Nikon 35Ti | 35mm | Fujifilm 400 | ISO 400

Nikkor 35mm F2.8

Photographed 12/23/25

Finished The Roll

I was itching to get out and finish a roll of film I had loaded in this camera, so on a cold day went to the historic town of Long Grove, IL for a photowalk.

Leica CL | 40mm | Ilford HP5+ | ISO 400

Voigtlander 40mm F1.4 Nokton Classic

Mill Pond

8'-6"

All In A Row

 

Sleigh Ride

Testing The Ice

Long Grove, IL

Cold weather brought on the freezing of creeks and ponds. Fortunately, this one held, but this young person didn't venture out too far.

Leica CL @ 40mm | Ilford HP5+ | ISO 400

Voigtlander 40mm F1.4 Nokton Classic

Photographed 12/21/25

Childhood Hero

Beers & Cameras-Chicago

Graceland Cemetery meet-up

Chicago, IL

An excellent meet-up, especially for those who've never been to Graceland before.  Of all the renown folks buried here, this is the one site I did not want to miss.

I remember meeting Ernie Banks in person at Wrigley Field as a kid.

Leica CL @ 40mm | Ilford HP5+ | ISO 400

Voigtlander 40mm F1.4 Nokton Classic

Photographed 11/22/25

Desert Shores

Desert Shores, CA

Population:  ~1,100

Once a thriving resort town along the western coast of the Salton Sea, its heyday being in the 1950-1960s, Desert Shores has deteriorated over the decades largely due to the residual effects of Salton Sea contamination.

Currently, there are several restoration projects underway and planned by local and state agencies, including water restoration to the marina.



I spent an afternoon capturing photographs of the town and had some good encounters with locals as well.



B/W photos were captured on Kodak Tri-X 400 film with a Voigtlander Bessa R4M camera and a Voigtlander 40mm F1.4 Nokton Classic
lens.  Color photos were captured digitally on a Sony A7Cii camera and a Voigtlander Color-Skopar 21mm F4 MC lens. 

All Photographed 11/9/25

Desert Shores

Once A Marina

Hope For The Future

Call For Help?

Palm & LaJolla

Sea & Sun

Art Revival

Lucia

Mi Amigos

Mountain Mike

Mountain Mike Custom Leather

Idyllwild, CA

If you're ever in need of a customized leather item, this is the place.  I wandered into this shop to inquire about a custom leather camera strap for my film cameras.  Mike presented a couple of options but unfortunately, did not have anything ready-made.  Next year, with some advance planning, I may have some new straps.

Check him out at: mountainmikecustomleather.com

Voigtlander Bessa R4M | 40mm | ISO 100 | Kentmere 100

Voigtlander 40mm F1.4 Nokton Classic

Photographed 11/1/25

Expired Film Test

On 10/25/25, I took a drive up to Illinois Beach State Park in Zion, IL in order to shoot some landscape photos using a fairly new to me Leica CL film camera and Leica 50mm F2 Summicron lens.  I was fairly confident using these two pieces of gear.  What I was not confident about was how the 25-30 year old expired color film would perform.  I did convert some to black & white as it was more conducive to the subject matter.

In the end, I was reasonably pleased; but you be the judge.

 

No Kings - Chicago

On 10/18/25, over 200,000 people attended the downtown Chicago "No Kings" rally and march.  It was a surprisingly peaceful protest, and at the same time, a palpable anger could be felt.  Many thanks are due the organizers for the superb job in orchestrating this massive event.

With digital and film cameras in hand, here are a few photos from the day.  Thanks to my friend Steve P. who offered an objective selection of the 180+ photos taken.

 

Paint Job

Main Street

Minturn, CO

Getting some pretty inconsistent results from my old Minolta film camera. Trying to figure out if it's the photographer, the camera and/or the lens 🤷‍♂️🤣.

Minolta X-700 | 28mm | Lomochrome Color '92 | ISO 400

MD Minolta Celtic 28mm F2.8

Photographed 10/10/25

Sitting On The Dock

52 Frames - Week 39 - Soundtrack

Waukegan Harbor

Waukegan, IL

One intention with this week's challenge was to shoot it with film and process at home in time to meet the deadline.

Out shooting with a recently acquired film camera and a new (to me) lens, this scene immediately brought to mind the infamous Otis Redding song.

Leica CL @ 50mm | Kodak Tri-X 400 | ISO 400

Leitz Wetzlar 50mm F2 Summicron

Photographed 9/24/25

Bike Cafe

Bike Cafe

Berlin, Germany

Not 100% of our trip involved "heavy" sights. We found this very cool restaurant/bike shop one morning and indulged in a great breakfast.  I also feasted on some eye candy of beautiful & colorful bikes and gear.

A personal bonus was shooting these with a film camera and home developing/scanning the film.



Nikon 35Ti | 35mm | Kodak Ultramax 400 | ISO 400

Photographed 9/17/25

 

Rent Me

Spokes & Wheels

Packing Tape Hat Guy

Wolff's Flea Market

Rosemont, IL

One thing about shooting on film...you never know if you're going to get open or closed eyes 😬.

Leica CL @ f8 | 40mm | Portra 160 (expired) | ISO 160

Voigtlander VM 40mm F1.4 Nokton Classic

Photographed 8/31/25

Conversations

Capturing scenes of people having conversations with inanimate objects at Wolff's Flea Market in Rosemont, IL on 8/31/25.  Photographed using a 1973 vintage Leica CL film camera w/ a Voigtlander VM 40mm F1.4 Nokton Classic lens on expired Kodak Portra 160 film.  Home developed and scanned.

 

Conversation 1

Conversation 2

Old Russian Guy

Wolff's Flea Market

Rosemont, IL

He struck up a conversation after seeing our cameras. Didn't understand 90% of what he said, but in the end he agreed to a portrait.

Leica CL @ f8 | 40mm | Portra 160 (expired) | ISO 160

Voigtlander VM 40mm F1.4 Nokton Classic

Photographed 8/31/25